wants manner; he has really no manner at all; and as to the deeper
feelings, Tip hasn't the remotest idea of them. I mean always to be
civil to Tip when he comes in my way, but I think the less we see of
that sort of people the better; and I hope, mother, you won't invite
the Chipmunks at Christmas,--these family dinners are such a bore!"

"But, my dear, your father thinks a great deal of the Chipmunks; and
it is an old family custom to have all the relatives here at
Christmas."

"And an awful bore it is! Why must people of refinement and
elevation be forever tied down because of some distant relationship?
Now there are our cousins the High-Flyers,--if we could get them,
there would be some sense in it. Young Whisk rather promised me for
Christmas; but it's seldom now you can get a flying squirrel to show
himself in our parts, and if we are intimate with the Chipmunks it
isn't to be expected."

"Confound him for a puppy!" said old Nutcracker, when his wife
repeated these sayings to him. "Featherhead is a fool. Common,
forsooth! I wish good, industrious, painstaking sons like Tip
Chipmunk WERE common. For my part, I find these uncommon people the
most tiresome. They are not content with letting us carry the whole
load, but they sit on it, and scold at us while we carry them."

But old Mr. Nutcracker, like many other good old gentlemen squirrels,
found that Christmas dinners and other things were apt to go as his
wife said, and his wife was apt to go as young Featherhead said; and
so, when Christmas came, the Chipmunks were not invited, for the
first time in many years. The Chipmunks, however, took all